The Beach to Bay Heritage Area recently offered a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) training class in which participants received certification through the National Association of Interpretation (NAI).
NAI provides training and networking opportunities for interpreters of natural and cultural heritage. The instructor, Jaime Bunting, led the 32- hour course over 2 non-consecutive weekends at the Museum of Eastern Shore Culture in downtown Salisbury. Participants had to demonstrate proficiency in interpretation by successfully developing a program outline and delivering a presentation.
The Interpretive Guide course is designed for individuals who regularly lead interpretive programs and would like to learn more about the fundamental principles of interpretation. During the course, participants learned how to develop and deliver purposeful, enjoyable, relevant, organized, and thematic programs and leave ready to facilitate meaningful experiences that inspire engagement with the world around us. Bunting stated that she always looks forward to working with interpreters and enjoys helping them work through the process of creating more relevant, meaningful, and engaging programs for their visitors and audiences”.
Those participants represented interpretive guides from Chesapeake Ghost Tours, Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Sustainable Visions, Purnell Museum, Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum, Experience Smith Island, Furnace Town Historic Site and Downtown Salisbury.
Lisa Challenger, Executive Director of the Beach to Bay Heritage Area said, “the participants were really engaged and excited to participate. They were fortunate that the Beach to Bay Heritage Area underwrote the cost of the training through a Maryland Heritage Areas Grant”. Challenger added “the course was met with such a favorable response, we may look into doing this again”.
